Process of japanning leather



( o M e I -S. O. HOWELL.

PROCESS OF JAPANNING LEATHER. N0. 397,8O& 9, Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY,

B Y v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL C. HOW ELL, OF NEVARK, NEV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF JAPANNING LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,803, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed July 3, 1888. Serial No. 278,891. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. HOWELL, of Newark, New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Process of Japanning Leather, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others to understand and use the same.

This my invention relates to the process of j apann in g leather, and is applied especially to leather to which a coating of varnish or enamel has been applied in the manufacture of what is known as patent-leather.

The stretching-frame used is preferably such as is described in my application made about this time, entitled improvement in leather-stretching frames, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the frame with a hide stretched thereon. Fig 2. is a detail of a catch, showing it closed. Fig. 3 is a like view showing it open. Fig.4 is a like view with a string in the bite of the catch.

The leather stretched on the frame A is attached to it by the cords C and clamps L, therein described, or by any equivalent means, so that any looseness or bagging in the leather may be taken up.

The process is as follows: The leather to be japanned having been attached to the frame A at one end, as shown, by tacking the same, (or by the cords and clamps, as herein shown,) the other edges of the leather are supplied with pieces of cords O, firmly fastened to the leather. These are drawn through the clamps L, arranged on the other sides of the frame A, and are drawn taut and then firmly clamped. A coating of oil, japan, varnish, or other ma terial is then put on the hide. This application will be found to have stretched the hide to a greater or less extent. The cords O are now pulled taut, so as to remove all bagging or looseness from the hide, and the coating is allowed to dry, when another coating is ap- .ing or other manipulation of the hide after it is put 011 the japanning-frame the hide is drawn taut in all directions from the center.

The stretching of the hide after each application of dressing or japan prevents the hide from shrinking and the consequent crimping of the applied japan, thus giving a superior finish to the leather, and also in creasing the size of the finished hide.

I have shown a clamp and frame of peculiar construction; but it is manifest that the invention may be carried out by frames or clamps of other forms adapted to the process.

The frames and clamps are not claimed in this application, as they form the subj eet-matter of an application for Letters Patent for improvement in stretching-frames, filed by me July 3,1888, and serially numbered 278,890.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process herein described of japanning leather, consisting of attaching to a stretching-frame a hide, stretching the same, applying a dressing or coating to the hide, stretching the same and drying it, applying another dressing or coating, and stretching the hide and drying the same, substantially as specified.

2. The process herein described of japanning leather, consisting of attaching to a stretching-frame a hide, stretching the same, applying a dressing or coating to the hide, stretching the same, and drying it, substantially as specified.

SAML. HOVELL.

\Vi tness es:

CHAS. W. WILLS, GEo. E. I-IowELL. 

